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Posts Tagged ‘christmas tree fires’

With so much to do during the holidays, it can be easy to forget that safety should remain a primary concern at home, at work and on the job. The holidays are hardly the time to turn a blind eye to safety:

Over the weekend, an Oklahoma family suffered a house fire which originated in their living room and was reportedly caused by a live Christmas tree. Thankfully, no one was hurt and the bulk of the damage was caused by smoke. However, not everyone is so lucky. The NFPA reports that, across the country, fire departments respond to an average of 230 home fireswhich start with Christmas trees. Over the past several weeks, we’ve blogged about a myriad of holiday safety issues. This week, we would like to turn our attention to two of the most flammable holiday decorations—Christmas trees and candles.

NFPA Facts about Home Holiday Fires

Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually.

One of every three home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems.

Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious.

On average, one of every 40 reported home structure Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home structure fires.

A heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every six of Christmas tree fires.

More than half (56%) of home candle fires occur when something that can catch on fire is too close to the candle.

December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 11% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.

Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires.

Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be.

Tree Fire Safety

Purchase only fresh trees. If needles are brittle or shed easily, choose a different tree.

When setting up the tree at home, place it at least three feet away from any heat source. In addition to the fireplace, stay away from radiators, heating vents and lighting. These can dry out a tree and increase its flammability.

Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Don’t leave the tree up for an extended period. Fire safety professionals recommend you do not leave it up for longer than two weeks.

When you dismantle the tree, discard it immediately. Do not leave it in a garage, on a porch or at the side of the house. A dried-out tree is highly flammable and can cause major damage even when it is just sitting outside. Check with your local community for a recycling program.

Candle Fire Safety

Candles cause home fires — and home fire deaths.

A candle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn.

Extinguish candles when you leave the room or go to bed.

Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.

Consider using flameless candles in your home.

If you decide to burn candles, make sure that you:

Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.

Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.

Light candles carefully.

Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.

Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.

Don’t use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.

Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage.

Religious Candle Safety

Whether you are using one candle, or more than one on a candelabra, kinara, or menorah, make sure you take a few moments to learn about using candles safely.

Candles should be placed in a sturdy candle holder.

Handheld candles should never be passed from one person to another.

When lighting candles at a candle lighting service, have the person with the unlit candle dip their candle into the flame of the lit candle.

Lit candles should not be placed in windows where a blind or curtain could catch fire.

Candles placed on, or near tables, altars, or shrines, must be watched by an adult.

Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.

If a candle must burn continuously, be sure it is enclosed in a glass container and placed in a sink, on a metal tray, or in a deep basin filled with water.

When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives. The Allied Universal Training System by Universal Fire/Life Safety Services is a convenient and affordable solution to all of the training needs of your building(s). Choosing our service cuts property management training-related costs by 90% and saves you over 50% compared to conventional training! More importantly, IT SAVES LIVES.

According to this report, from Dec. 24 to 26, fire deaths, injuries and dollar loss increases an average of 50%, 61% and 43%, respectively. That’s a huge spike in emergency situations over the course of just a few days, turning what should be a time of joy and celebration into devastating tragedies.

In addition, the yearly estimated fire loss for Dec. 24, 25 and 26 is more than $80 million, and each year these losses result from an estimated 11,600 fires that require a fire department response.

This holiday season, be prepared and practice caution. Keep in mind that as Christmas trees dry out, the risk of fire increases; the use of candles contributes to the increase in holiday fires; and cooking fires increase on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

You can help prevent these situations by paying attention to tree water levels and open flames and checking lights for potential electrical problems – not just around the holidays, but all year round.

Allied Universal wishes you and yours the very best and SAFE holidays this year!